39: Chapter 39 Xu Ruyu's Doubts: Isn't Master a Saint Realm expert? Why does he like to eat such mundane things?

Xu Ruyu held the two large leaves, the grilled fish on them still emitting wisps of heat. The golden fish skin shimmered with an oily luster under the sunlight, and the aroma stubbornly drilled into his nostrils.

Yet, he stood there as if struck by a paralysis spell, frozen in place. His mind buzzed, the words Revered Master had just spoken—soft as a mosquito's hum, yet earth-shattering—echoed repeatedly:

"I... I want to eat."

Want... to eat?

Eat... grilled fish?

Xu Ruyu's gaze moved mechanically from the fragrant grilled fish in his hands to his Revered Master, the Fairy sitting upright on the grand armchair, her back straight as a pine, her profile seemingly untouched by dust in the sunlight, and then back to the grilled fish...

There was no way to equate these two things!

Revered Master Xiao Nianyin, Sect Master of Hehuan Sect, a Saint Realm Expert (though there might be some issues now, her status and vision remained), should have been fasting for hundreds of years, drinking the wind and eating the dew, absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and surviving on the essence of the sun and moon, Medicinal Pill, and nectar.

Such vulgar, worldly, even slightly crude grilled fish... How could she... How could it be...

Xu Ruyu felt his worldview had been severely impacted. Was the fasting of the Cultivation World all a lie? Or was it that... Revered Master, she...

A bolder, more terrifying thought, like lightning flashing in the dark night, suddenly struck his mind: Could it be that because last night... he and she... did that... it caused her cultivation to be damaged, and even... she couldn't even maintain fasting anymore?

This thought made Xu Ruyu shudder, a layer of cold sweat instantly breaking out on his back.

He subconsciously raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face!

"Slap!"

The crisp sound spread across the silent platform.

The sound wasn't heavy, but it was clear enough.

Xiao Nianyin's head, originally tilted slightly, moved imperceptibly. Her peripheral vision seemed to catch Xu Ruyu's inexplicable action, but she did not turn back, nor did she ask, only her fingers, folded on her lap, tightened slightly, her knuckles turning somewhat white.

At this moment, all her attention was occupied by the aroma of the food close at hand and the growing emptiness in her abdomen; how could she care why Xu Ruyu was slapping himself?

Xu Ruyu's cheek burned from his own slap, and he completely sobered up.

He forcibly suppressed those absurd conjectures in his heart, took a few deep breaths, and tried to calm himself down.

Regardless of the reason, Revered Master had spoken; she wanted to eat the fish he grilled, and that was the fact, as well as an order.

He hurriedly carried the grilled fish, walked quickly to Xiao Nianyin's side, bowed slightly, held one of the leaves higher, his voice still a bit tight: "M-Revered Master... the fish is ready, please... please eat."

Xiao Nianyin slowly turned her head, her gaze falling on the golden, crispy grilled fish before her.

Her movements remained elegant and composed, as if she were accepting a cup of clear tea offered by a Disciple, rather than a fish still carrying the scent of worldly smoke and fire.

She reached out with her slender, jade-like hand, moving very slowly, her fingertips trembling slightly in a way that was hard to detect, and took the large leaf.

On the leaf, the heat of the grilled fish steamed up, carrying a mixture of grease and herbs, washing over her face, making her pale cheeks seem to be tinged with a warmth belonging to the human world.

Her eyes carefully examined the fish, as if studying some rare treasure, or perhaps... struggling to maintain her last vestige of restraint against the surging instinctive desire deep within her heart.

Xu Ruyu held his breath, standing cautiously to the side, secretly observing Revered Master's reaction.

He saw Revered Master's throat seem to swallow gently again, a movement so slight that if his attention hadn't been highly focused, he would have been unable to detect it.

Finally, Xiao Nianyin extended two fingers, gently pinched a slightly upturned piece of the charred, golden, crispy fish skin, and carefully tore off a small piece.

Her movements were light, slow, and carried a solemnity bordering on ritual, as if she were not eating fish, but performing some sacred rite.

She slowly brought that small piece of fish skin to her mouth.

Her pearly white teeth bit down gently.

"Crunch..."

A crisp, shattering sound rang out.

Xiao Nianyin's chewing motion paused. In that instant, it was as if tiny starlight exploded in her cold, deep-pool-like eyes, only to quickly return to stillness.

But Xu Ruyu clearly saw a flash of extremely rapid, complex emotion deep in her eyes—was it surprise? Was it satisfaction? Or... a long-lost sensory memory?

She didn't speak, nor did she look at Xu Ruyu, but continued to chew.

The movement was still slow, but no longer so stiff.

She swallowed the piece of fish skin, then her gaze fell back onto the grilled fish. This time, her eyes locked directly onto the snow-white, delicate fish meat.

She put down the torn piece of skin and used her fingers to carefully peel off a small, complete, steaming piece of fish meat from the fish, and brought it to her mouth again.

This time, the speed of chewing seemed a little faster.

The fish meat was tender and fresh, with the unique clear sweetness and elasticity of Spirit Fish, mixed with the unique fragrance of wild herbs, and the charred aroma brought by the flame... all sorts of flavors bloomed on her taste buds, which had been empty for hundreds of years, like sweet rain after a long drought.

Xiao Nianyin's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

She began to peel off the fish meat piece by piece and put it into her mouth.

Her movements maintained a certain deliberate elegance, but the speed increased unknowingly.

Her cheeks bulged slightly, moving gently as she chewed. Her eyes, always cold and distant, were now lowered, focused on the grilled fish in her hands, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her eyelids.

Xu Ruyu stood on the side, dumbfounded.

He never thought that one day he would see his Revered Master, who did not eat the food of mortals, sitting on an ordinary grand armchair, tearing and eating a fish he had grilled with her hands.

The visual impact was so strong that it made him temporarily forget his previous fear and suspicion, leaving only a kind of near-absurd astonishment.

What surprised him even more was the way Revered Master ate the fish... although she tried hard to maintain her demeanor, that focus, that almost instinctive craving for food, could not be hidden.

She even... ate quite quickly.

A spirit fish that was not small was soon more than half eaten by her.

The fish bones were carefully picked to the side, arranged quite neatly, but the speed at which the fish meat disappeared far exceeded Xu Ruyu's expectations.

Xiao Nianyin also seemed to realize that she was eating a bit... too engrossed.

She paused, lifted her eyelids, and her gaze met Xu Ruyu's, who was standing there foolishly.

Xu Ruyu was caught off guard and quickly looked away, pretending to watch the scenery in the distance.

Xiao Nianyin's ears seemed to turn even redder.

She cleared her throat, trying to keep her voice steady, but the slight panting still exposed her "effort" in eating just now: "Hmm... the taste is acceptable."